In this post we travel back to the surf of the 60’s . The 1960s surf scene wasn’t just about catching waves — it was a whole way of life. Sun-bleached boards, woody wagons packed with friends, transistor radios playing The Beach Boys, and endless summer dreams defined a generation chasing freedom along the coast. From California beaches to Australian shorelines, surf culture became a vibrant mix of music, fashion, rebellion, and laid-back optimism. It was a world where salt air, barefoot afternoons, and the roar of the ocean created a lifestyle that still inspires retro lovers today.

While researching I found an amazing website called surfclassics.com. They boast that they're “The world’s only website devoted to vintage surf movie posters.” Featuring over 400 retro posters from the 60’s. The collection is impressive and it kept me entertained for hours. The typography, the images, the name of the movie titles, it was a delight for the eyes. If you have a love of surfing this is a must see. Here is a little teaser.

"Directors of surf movies used a poster to advertise the film and venue in which it would be shown. Many of these posters featured the director’s own creative artwork or photography and became “works of art” in their own right"

-Keith Maynard Eshelman

Keeping with the beach theme, I thought I'd share something I am quite familiar with living in sunny Queensland, Australia. The famous Meter Maids of Surfers Paradise. They became an unforgettable symbol of Australia’s growing beach culture and tourism boom. The meter maids have a long history of strutting their stuff in gold bikinis and dropping change in meters to help out the tourists. They shared the fun-loving spirit of the Gold Coast and quickly became a pop culture icon of the era — blending surf culture, sunshine, and the carefree energy that defined Surfers Paradise during its golden years. They’ve been around since 1964 and their history and iconic presence in Surfers Paradise is an interesting read https://www.metermaids.com/our-history

And finally, our last destination back in time is an auditory blast from the past with Dick Dale and the Del Tones. The 60’s saw a rise in instrumental surf rock. The sound of guitars with saturated re-verb is said to mimic crashing waves. Wipe out and the theme to Hawaii 5-O were popular hits but Dick Dale is known as the King of Surf Guitar . For more on his history check out his website http://www.dickdale.com/history.html.

And for you a good giggle at a wiggle, have a watch of the retro dance moves & listen to the song Mirilou

https://youtu.be/KLxqm7ey4Nw

Credits -

A special thanks goes to Keith Maynard Eshelman @ http://surfclassics.com for permission to use his fab images and information.

https://www.metermaids.com/our-history

http://www.dickdale.com/history.html

#fads #1960s #retrosurfing #60spopculture